Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-01
DOES NOT MIND ABUSE.
Mf. ODefly Quotes from the Civil
Service Law.

he DID NOT MAKE THE Law, But WILL ADMINISTER
1T AS IT STANDS, AND As IT WAS PASSED By DEMO
Gratis, REGARDLESS OF CoNsEQURNcHs-HR Has
BLAzED THE WAY FOR VICTORY 10 FOOLS.
A STAR reporter visited Commissioner Oberly at
the civ1l-serv1ce rooms to-day. He had read the
attacks upon him because Of his letter to the Ill
nois Democratic Association, and took them good
naturedly. ~ get fat on such abuse" he re-
marked In testing manner, and then with, q
serious air, he said:
"Ive been pioneer in democracy ever since !
entered pontics. I've gone ahead and blazed the
way to victory for fools who loitered behind and
Ssone r., "nen at the END Of the war advised
plished facts and take up new and live issues
was denounced as traitor to democracy and an
what am, or what have done. It is a question
OF law !! did not enact the law. am not respon-
siole forit Now, let me read you that part Of the
were put IN there by the democrats OF Congress.
Listen to this" continued Mr.. Oberly, reading the
FROM TIE CIvu-sERvICE Law:
Territorial Delegate Of the Congress, or Senator Rep
resentahye or Deeeate-elect or any officer or e1n-
cial military. naval officer OF the United States
and no clerk or employe Of any Department branch,
soclt or receive or be in any manner con
scription or contribution for any poiitcsi purpose
United States or any ol banch Or
thereol or from any person receiving salary or
Of tie United States "e' oe'''eo 'f0n 'ne
SEC ~ That no person SHALL in room or build
officer empoye Of the Tilted States States mentioned in
sn shis ACT OF IN any fort or arsenal solicit
money or any other thing of value for any political
SEC ~ No officer or emp,ove of the United States
mentioned ia this shall discharge promote or de-
penssion any other ofcer or @ empoye or promise
go to do for giving withholding neglect
able thing for any political purpose
SEC Il That no officer, clerk other person in the
in the service Of the United States senator
or Member of the House of Representatives. Terri
cra Ressate M ga E. any or other valuable thing
litical obj.ct whatever
ANY POLITICAL ORGANIZATION COMPOSED OF OFFICE
HOLDERS VIOLATES THE LAW.
"Now", resumed the Commissioner, "can Ian
guage be stronger than that? say it could not.
In my letter did not refer to organizations like
that OF the Virginia Association composed mainly
or business and professional men-of non-of1ice-
holders said and still maintain, that under the
law any Federal Omce-hOlder who sOlicitS or re-
the law. Any organization Tor political purposes
composed OF off1ce-hOlders, necessarily violates
this law. Let those who criticise me ind fault
Mr.. oBRRLY WAS NOT AN oFF1cE-sEEkER.
Speaking OF the charge that he had come to
Washington to seek of1ce Mr.. Oberly said: "That
Is not true. came here as newspaper CORE
spondent, and after had gone home was tele-
graphed ior and an Office given to me. did not
seek 1t. Nor did ask for the place now hold.
had not thought OF 1t when 1t was offered to me- VI
The Commissioner declared, emphatieally, that
he intends to administer the law as 1t stands, re-
gardleSS OF abuse.
VIEWS OF DEMOCRATIC OFFICIAL.
democratic official, who holds An important
position in one OF the Departments, speaking OF
the Oberly letter to q STAR reporter, said:
'That letter, to look at 1t In political sense
alone, will be OF great benefit to the democratic
party. The talk that 1t win hurt the party comes
from narrow-minded men VINO can't see beyond
their noses. am not a friend OF Mr.. Oberly
l am not even acquainted with him;
would not know him II l should meet him; but
my opinion is that letter will greatly aid the
party. How? Why 1t shows that Mr.. Oberly is
honest and correct In his administration OF the
law; that he Is not swayed by partisan FEELING
tell you It took man OF nerve to write that let
ter for he must have known 1t would hurt bin with
his party. But the people OF the country will
feel satisfied that this law Is to be honestly
enforced, and Mr.. Oberly deserves credit for his
pluck and his honesty. He is right as to the
construction of the law, too, and none but blind